How should we celebrate 4th of July in New York?

if in doubt drink!

The Macy’s fireworks are quite spectacular, but the crowds are intense. Since Giuliani, the cops have cracked down on the spontaneous fireworks in Chinatown and Little Italy, which I suppose is for the best, but I am still nostalgic for the days when being downtown on the 4th was somewhat dangerous.

If you go to see the Macy’s show, go early and take good food and drink, because nothing good is available, and what there is is too expensive. Be prepared to be crushed, but astounded.

@dpworkin Sounds interesting! What about going out to eat? Any recommendations? And is it a busy night for restaurants?

If you’ve never been to New York, why not try Chinatown? It’s a kind of Chinese food you just won’t find anywhere else. Every night is a busy night for restaurants. If you’re talking about the kind of place for which you need a reservation, I’d call early.

I second the Macy’s Fireworks display. They spend millions on it. World class display and it gets better every year but it’s like New Years in Times Square. Go really early and find a spot on the river.

@SeventhSense Where should we go more specifically? And how early is early? We don’t even know where it will be launched from :-)

@Jbor
Each year Macy’s kicks off the world’s largest fireworks display at approximately 9pm on July 4th. Four barges stationed between 23rd and 42nd Streets in the East River set off 20,000 aerial shells and special effects. There are electric set pieces on the barges, and the New York Fire Department gets in on the act with fire boats shooting red, clear, and blue water 300 feet over the river.
~http://www.ny.com/holiday/july4/
I would say at least 5–10 hours or more to get a spot on the river. Bring a folding chair and a cooler with some soft drinks. I’d watch the open bottles with all the police around. And once they cordone off a block with barricades you can’t move until it’s over otherwise there would be mass chaos. But the few areas that I recall that appeared to have more freedom of movement were on the river but these also fill up fast. Basically every square inch of sidewalk.

I wouldn’t try to go after 5:00 or so – that’s why you need to bring food and drink. Scout the East River between 23rd and 42nd the day before, and pick your spot – you might get a grassy place in a park!

@SeventhSense @dpworkin
Great tips! Regarding watching the open bottles – is it illegal to drink alcohol in public?

I was just watching a map – what about Roosevelt Island? nice park there on the south end, but I gather I’m not the only one who’s spotted that :-) What’s the deal?

@Jbor
I think if you have it in a paper bag you’re Ok. Silly I know.
Yes Roosevelt Island would be good

Roosevelt Island is nice, but it will get jammed!

Thanks all! One last question . my girlfriend has a problem frequently seen with girls – a rather small bladder. Will there be any public lavatories available, or how should we handle that?

Oy. If she is dressed nicely and just walks directly into a restaurant and heads straight for the bathroom, no one will stop her, but what she’s going to do while you are jammed in a crowd in a park or on a walkway with 600 billion other people, I don’t know. Motorman’s friend?

@dpworkin I have no clue about what Motorman’s Friend is, but I could imagine :-) Thanks all for great answers!

Look. You have to put this into perspective. Any other street crowd gathering does not compare. For most spots, on the sidewalk sitting is not even a concept. And once a block is filled and the fireworks start, the police add these on either end of the block and you can not leave even if you want. The risk of trampling is grave when there is this level of people. Now I’m not trying to dissuade you but people think they know what a crowd is but unless you’ve been to Mecca during Holy Week, Times Square on New Years Eve you really can’t compare. It’s like big crowd to the tenth power. Anywhere near or bordering the area will be THRONGS of people.
For more information, call Macy’s Hotline at (212) 494–4495.

@SeventhSense isn’t exaggerating, but if I were visiting for the first time and it happened to be on the 4th, I’d never forgive myself for missing it. It will be the most uncomfortable, but also one of the most exciting things you have ever done. I have gone with both sets of my kids (So that would have been in the 90’s, and again about 5 years ago) and I regret neither experience.

If you want to spend big bucks, you can try to get on a sightseeing boat that is going out into the harbor for the fireworks. Or if you grease my palm, I will get you a “ticket” to the roof of my brother’s apartment building on Avenue A and 3rd St. where you can see two sets of fireworks.

It’s definitely a must see. It’s way over the top.